LCMS Commission on Constitutional Matters — Minutes St. Louis, Missouri — April 18-19, 1974, Page 1

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MINUTES OF MEETING OF COMMISSION ON CONSTITUTIONAL MATTERS
April 18-19, 1974 - Chicago, Illinois
85. All voting members were present: Luessenhop, Klotz, Freise, who was a few minutes late due to a
misunderstanding, Prevallet, Mueller. After an opening prayer by Luessenhop the minutes of the March
22-23, 1974 stood approved as submitted. It was explained that the agenda of this meeting would be
devoted mostly to a thorough examination of the questions raised with respect to New Orleans convention
Resolutions 2-12, 3-01, and 3-09, plus a few other restricted items of a pressing nature.
86. Suelflow Presentation: After the pertinent convention resolutions had been discussed for some time
the Commission heard a presentation by August Suelflow on "Questions and Comments Re Articles II,
VIII C, and VII.3 An outline of his presentation is attached to the minutes. Much time was devoted to
discussion and direct questions placed to Dr. Suelflow. This portion of the meeting lasted for almost three
hours and resulted in an expression of thanks to Dr. Suelflow for having been of great benefit to the
Commission in sketching the historical background of doctrinal articles in the Constitution, statements,
and resolutions.
87. Constitutionality of N.O. Resolutions 2-12, 3-01, 3-09 (Ag. 485, 485A to I, 450, 451, 451A & B, 462,
487B, 495, 495A, 499, 499A, 524, 525, 525A, 529, 536, 545, 547, 570, 573, 574): After devoting the
entire afternoon to a further discussion of these resolutions the Commission toward the end of the day
arrived at a four-point tentative conclusion:
1. Res. 2-12. The Synod has a right to adopt doctrinal resolutions and statements.
2. Res. 3-01. Consequently it also had a right to adopt Res. 3-01. However, A Statement cannot
be binding in the same sense in which Scripture is binding or in which the Confessions are
willingly made binding. Scripture alone is to bind consciences (Luther at Worms). In this
resolution the Synod sets forth its corporate position and its public teaching. Already the
Cleveland convention called upon all to honor and to uphold the synodical resolutions and this, as
indicated by Milwaukee Resolution 2-21,.means more than studying them. There are safeguards
and channels for dissent.
3. Res. 3-09. The Commission has already ruled on this resolution. Even though the language
may be confusing at times the Commission states once again that the Synod has a right to adopt
doctrinal resolutions. In this resolution a certain doctrinal position is rejected. It was decided to
pick up the remainder of the argumentation in Mueller's fusion paper (Ag. 485X) on this subject.
4. The CCM intends to propose to the next convention a bylaw regarding synodical doctrinal
statements in the hope of finally clarifying this troublesome matter.
Mueller was asked to draft the document overnight. Prevallet was requested to work up a possible
paragraph on the fact that although Synod adopted doctrinal statements through the years no one seemed
inclined to raise a constitutional question about them until 1959. On the following morning Mueller's
draft was presented. The statement on conscience was further refined and a few other changes were made.
It was then decided to hold final action on the document until the next meeting. In the meantime the
Secretary will now type the document in rough draft form and make it available to the members of the
Commission for further intensive study. Prevallet stated that he would submit to the Secretary a new
paragraph on his assignment for circulation. The absolute necessity of confidentiality in this matter was
stressed.